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Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Maronite Patriarch decries humanitarian law breach as aid to Christian village halted (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))

Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, the Patriarch of the Maronite Church, condemned the cancellation of a humanitarian convoy intended for a beleaguered Christian village in southern Lebanon.

The apostolic nuncio, joined by UN peacekeepers and Catholic organizations, organized the convoy to assist the residents of Debel amid the Lebanon war.

“The cancellation of a humanitarian convoy—even for security reasons—constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law” and represents “an affront to the defenseless inhabitants of southern Lebanon, trapped in the crossfire of the war between Hezbollah and Israel,” the Patriarch said in his statement. (L’Osservatore Romano did not state whether Israeli forces or others had cancelled the aid.)

Dozens killed in Easter attacks across Nigeria (CWN)

Dozens of Christians were killed in Easter attacks across Nigeria.

Cardinal Nichols ponders why more people are becoming Catholic (Catholic Herald)

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, until recently the archbishop of Westminster, England, reflected on the reasons behind the increasing number of conversions. He listed four: the search for belonging, the search for meaning, the beauty of Catholicism, and the Eucharist.

He concluded:

One day, I asked a woman, married to a Catholic for over twenty years and now seeking full communion, what had taken her so long. Her answer: “Nobody ever asked me!” This, too, is well worth pondering.

Pope announces April 11 peace vigil at St. Peter's (EWTN News)

Pope Leo XIV announced that a prayer vigil for peace will take place on Easter Saturday (April 11) in St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts,” he said while delivering his Easter message urbi et orbi (to the city and the world). “For this reason, I invite everyone to join me in a prayer vigil for peace that we will celebrate here in Saint Peter’s Basilica next Saturday, April 11.”

Logo, motto released for papal journey to Spain (Vatican News)

The Holy See Press Office released the logo and motto of Pope Leo’s apostolic journey to Spain, which will take place from June 6-12.

The motto of the apostolic journey is “Lift up your eyes” (Jn. 4:35); the logo is displayed here.

Cardinal Pizzaballa: 'We have no other weapon than this empty tomb' (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)

In his Easter Sunday homily, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, preaching in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, said that “we have no other weapon than this empty tomb.”

The Risen Christ is “the only hope that can still open, here and now, the gates of peace,” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M. “He is not merely to be contemplated; he is to be followed. He is not to be held back; we must allow him to lead the way.”

Cardinal Pizzaballa added:

The stone has been rolled away. The passage is open. But we must decide whether to stay inside or go out.

In practical terms, stepping out means choosing forgiveness when it would be easier to harden our hearts; choosing truth when it would be more comfortable to conform; choosing hope when everything suggests the opposite; choosing to do good, just as Jesus “went about doing good,” even if it goes unnoticed, even if it brings no recognition.

Bishop, in Vatican newspaper, calls for peacemaking, criticizes American Protestant fundamentalism (CWN)

In a front-page op-ed in today’s edition of the Vatican newspaper, an Italian bishop described peacemaking as the third way between “naive pacifism” and “vulgar militarism.”

Congressmen Renew Push to Make Easter Monday a Federal Holiday

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Apr. 7 Tuesday within the Octave of Easter, Solemnity

Alleluia Verse, Ps 118:24:This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Defense Secretary Hegseth Removes Top Army Chaplain Amid Iran War, Chaplaincy Reform

cna